THREE Vietnamese from the High Island detention centre were prevented from attending the opening last night of the first public exhibition of their paintings.
The 53 pictures by Nguyen Hoa Hiep, 29, Le Nguyen Vu, 43, and Tang Kieu Hue, in his early 30s, were started after the men arrived in the camp, Gerard Tannam of Arts 'N Noise promotion company, which is arranging the show, said.
Mr Nguyen arrived in Hong Kong in 1992, the other two in 1991.
While the pictures portray camp scenes and life in Vietnam, they also hint at detention conditions: the lack of materials means one is painted on a blanket and another on a sheet.
The painters had not yet been screened for refugee status, Mr Tannam said. A request that they attend the exhibition was turned down last week.
The exhibition runs until the end of April at the Gallery Cafe at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
